Rocket Internet, the Germany-based internet investor backed by investors including industrial group Access Industries, is looking to go public at a valuation of over €3bn ($4.1bn), Bloombeg has reported, citing two people familiar with the situation.
Founded by the Samwer brothers in 2007, Rocket Internet operates in the space between an incubator and a venture capital fund, and although it is based in Berlin, its offices span 25 countries.
Rocket is most famous for taking online business models pioneered elsewhere and transferring them to new markets through local startups, many of which were subsequently acquired by the originals, such as Ebay and Groupon.
The firm has generally sought to locate those in Europe, though the incubator is now also beginning to lay down roots in other territories, particularly Southeast Asia.
Equity investors in Rocket include Access, as well as investment firm Investment AB Kinnevik, which have together invested almost $2bn, Rocket claimed last year.
JP Morgan and Summit Partners are also said to be investors and Rocket has a long-standing investment partnership with retail chain Tengelmann, through its Tengelmann Ventures unit.
The IPO is planned to take place in Frankfurt later this year, and Rocket is reportedly in talks with Berenberg, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley over the details, though none of the companies concerned have yet commented.